[Hemorrhagic complications in drusen of the optic papilla]

A case of optic disc drusen complicated by retinal hemorrhages similar to those seen in central retinal vein occlusion is presented. While haemorrhagic complications of optic disc drusen are rare, three types have been described: small disk haemorrhages, vitreous haemorrhages and deep peripapillary haemorrhages. This clinical aspect of the haemorrhagic retinopathy presented in this paper has rarely been described; the pathogenesis of this lesion can be attributed to a progressive compression by the drusen on the central vein in the optic disk, causing a venous stasis retinopathy. Since it is impossible to remove the cause of the venous compression, the prognosis of this clinical form is always poor. Finally, the author emphasizes the need to consider this rare complication of drusen of the optic disk, especially in young patients with no systemic pathology who present this ophthalmoscopic picture, in order to avoid useless, time consuming tests and ineffective therapies.